Infrared heaters provide a necessary boost to the outdoor dining season in Detroit

No matter what the temperature, outdoor dining opened for the season in Detroit on April 1. Due to the unsavory weather, many restaurants have waited a necessary two weeks before opening their patio doors, as 30 restaurants in town are licensed for outdoor seating. In order to keep customers comfortable on these opening dates, restaurants will need the energy efficient warmth of outdoor infrared heaters.

According to the Detroit Free Press, restaurants are coming up with innovative ideas to fill up their patios on these early dates. “We always have them [patios] up by April 15,” Bob Morton, co-owner of Lily’s Seafood, told the news source. “But this year we’ll try something a little different: We’ll open on the 15th at 12:01 a.m.” If the weather is colder than expected, Bob has considered the possibility of featuring hot coffee drinks to keep customers comfortable.

Offering a targeted heat that warms objects, producing no unnecessary stench of gas like propane, infrared heaters cost 14 cents per hour. There’s no better way to keep customers warm without financially anchoring restaurant managers.